Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFGAVI7’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Chrysanthemum  plant named ‘DLFGAVI7’, characterized by its upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit; dark green-colored leaves; uniform flowering habit; strong upright flowering stems typically grown as a single-stem (disbudded) cut flower; decorative-type inflorescences with dark red purple-colored ray florets; and relative resistance to  Fusarium oxysporum  f. sp.  chrysanthemi, Verticillium dahliae  and  Puccinia horiana  strain PhNL1.

Botanical designation: Chrysanthemum X morifolium.

Cultivar denomination: ‘DLFGAVI7’.

CROSS-REFERENCED TO CLOSELY-RELATED APPLICATIONS

Title: Varieties of Chrysanthemum Plants

Inventor/Applicant: Arie Gerard Post

Filed: Mar. 20, 2019

Ser. No.: 62/919,611

Inventor/Applicant hereby claim the benefit of this provisional U.S. Patent Application.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTOR/APPLICANT & ASSIGNEE

The Inventor/Applicant and Assignee assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventor/Applicant and/or the Assignee. Inventor/Applicant and Assignee claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium, typically grown as a cut flower Chrysanthemum and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘DLFGAVI7’.

The new Chrysanthemum plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Maasdijk, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program is to create new cut flower Chrysanthemum plants with numerous attractive inflorescences.

The new Chrysanthemum plant originated from a cross-pollination in February, 2015 of a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB 33586 as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB 11247 as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Chrysanthemum plant was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Maasdijk, The Netherlands in March, 2016.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum plant by vegetative terminal cuttings since March, 2016 in Maasdijk, The Netherlands has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘DLFGAVI7’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘DLFGAVI7’ as a new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant:

-   -   1. Upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Dark green-colored leaves.     -   3. Uniform flowering habit.     -   4. Strong upright flowering stems typically grown as a         single-stem (disbudded) cut flower.     -   5. Decorative-type inflorescences with dark red purple-colored         ray florets.     -   6. Relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp.         chrysanthemi, Verticillium dahliae and Puccinia horiana strain         PhNL1.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the female parent selection in inflorescence size as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have smaller inflorescences than plants of the female parent selection. In addition, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have dark red-colored ray florets whereas plants of the female parent selection have dark purple-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ from plants of the male parent selection in ray floret color as plants of the new Chrysanthemum have dark red-colored ray florets whereas plants of the male parent selection have purplish red-colored ray florets. In addition, ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are slightly revolute whereas ray florets of plants of the male parent selection are strongly revolute.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘Delibarca’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons plants of the new Chrysanthemum differ primarily from plants of ‘Delibarca’ in ray floret color as ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum have dark red in color whereas ray florets of plants of ‘Delibarca’ are dark purplish red in color. In addition, apices of ray florets of plants of the new Chrysanthemum are obtuse to retuse whereas apices of ray florets of plants of ‘Delibarca’ are mammillate.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Chrysanthemum plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type.

The photograph on the first sheet (FIG. 1 of 2) comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘DLFGAVI7’ grown as a disbud-type cut flower.

The photograph on the second sheen (FIG. 2 of 2) is a close-up view of lower (top of the photographic sheet) and upper (bottom of the photographic sheet) surfaces of typical inflorescences (left) and leaves (right).

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the winter in ground beds in a glass-covered greenhouse in Maasdijk, The Netherlands and under cultural practices typical of commercial cut Chrysanthemum production. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 2° C. to 20° C. and light levels averaged 8 klux. Plants were grown as single-stem disbud-type plants and were nine weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2015 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum X morifolium ‘DLFGAVI7’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB             33586, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Chrysanthemum x morifolium identified as code number DB             11247, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About six days at             temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About eight days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About twelve             days at temperatures about 24° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About two             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous; typically creamy white in             color, actual color of the roots is dependent on substrate             composition, water quality, fertilizers, substrate             temperature and physiological age of roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching, medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Herbaceous decorative-type cut             flower that is typically grown as a single stem disbud-type;             upright plant habit; vigorous growth habit and rapid growth             rate.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of foliar plane.—About 76.4             cm.         -   Plant height, soil level to top of inflorescence             plane.—About 80.7 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 15.2 cm.         -   Flowering stem length.—About 73.2 cm.         -   Flowering stem diameter.—About 6 mm.         -   Flowering stem internode length.—About 2.7 cm.         -   Flowering stem strength.—Strong.         -   Flowering stem aspect.—Erect.         -   Flowering stem texture and luster.—Moderately pubescent;             slightly glossy.         -   Flowering stem color, developing.—Close to 144A.         -   Flowering stem color, developed.—Close to 137B; ridges,             tinged with close to 197A.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 14.3 cm. Width: About 8.3 cm. Shape: Ovate. Apex:             Short apiculate. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Palmately lobed,             coarsely crenate; sinuses convergent and shallow in depth.             Texture and luster, upper surface: Moderately pubescent, not             rugose; moderately velvety; slightly to moderately glossy.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Moderately pubescent,             prominent venation; slightly velvety; slightly glossy.             Venation pattern: Pinnate, reticulate. Color: Developing             leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A to 137B. Developing             leaves, lower surface: Close to between 138B and 147B. Fully             developed leaves, upper surface: Close to between NN137A and             139A; venation, close to 147B. Fully developed leaves, lower             surface: Close to 147B; venation, close to 146C. Petioles:             Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm by 3.5 mm.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture and luster, upper and             lower surfaces: Densely pubescent; slightly glossy. Color,             upper surface: Close to 148B; edges, close to NN137A. Color,             lower surface: Close to 147C; edges, close to 137B.             Stipules: Quantity and appearance: Two leafy stipules,             opposite, at the petiole attachment to the stem. Length:             About 9 mm. Width: About 1.3 cm. Shape: Cleft to palmate             with two to four lobes. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Moderately pubescent, not rugose; moderately velvety;             slightly to moderately glossy. Texture and luster, lower             surface: Moderately pubescent, prominent venation; slightly             velvety; slightly glossy. Color, upper surface: Close to             between NN137A and 139A. Color, lower surface: Close to             147B. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   Appearance.—Decorative incurved inflorescence form with             narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate-shaped ray florets; to             date, disc floret development has not been observed;             inflorescences borne perpendicular to peduncles and face             upright; ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Fragrance.—Moderately to faintly fragrant; typical of             Chrysanthemums.         -   Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant flower             in the autumn/winter in the Northern Hemisphere; at other             times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development             can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at             least 13.5 hours of darkness); uniform flowering habit and             short response time, plants exposed to two weeks of long             day/short night conditions after planting followed by             photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about             57 days later when grown as a disbud-type.         -   Postproduction longevity.—Good postproduction longevity; in             an interior environment, inflorescences and foliage will             maintain good color and substance for about two weeks;             inflorescences persistent.         -   Quantity of inflorescences.—Grown as a disbud-type, all             lateral inflorescences are physically removed and only the             terminal inflorescence is allowed to develop; if grown as a             spray-type, then typically about twelve inflorescences will             develop.         -   Inflorescence size.—Diameter: Grown as a disbud type, about             9.1 cm and grown as a spray-type, about 6.8 cm. Depth             (height): Grown as a disbud type, about 5.6 cm and grown as             a spray-type, about 2.7 cm.         -   Receptacles.—Height: About 6 mm. Diameter: About 1.2 cm.             Shape: Flattened globular. Color: Close to 145B and 145D.         -   Inflorescence buds.—Height: About 1.4 cm. Diameter: About             1.3 cm. Shape: Roughly globular. Texture and luster:             Distally, smooth and glabrous; proximally, densely             pubescent; moderately glossy. Color: Close to 137C; immature             ray florets, close to N79B and N79C.         -   Ray florets.—Quantity and arrangement: About 380 arranged in             about ten whorls. Length: About 3.5 cm; varying between 1.8             cm and 4.2 cm. Width: About 1 cm; varying between 0.2 cm and             1.2 cm. Shape: Narrowly elliptic to oblanceolate; slightly             convex and moderately carinate. Apex: Obtuse to retuse.             Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire; not undulate. Aspect:             Initially upright to about 90° from vertical. Texture and             luster, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous; velvety; matte.             Texture and luster, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous;             slightly velvety; moderately glossy. Color: When opening,             upper surface: Close to between 59A and 187C. When opening,             lower surface: Close to 72B. Fully opened, upper surface:             Close to between 59A and 187C; venation, close to between             59A and 187C; color does not change with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to 70A; venation, close to 70A;             color does not change with development.         -   Disc florets.—To date, disc floret development has not been             observed on inflorescences of plants of the new             Chrysanthemum.         -   Involucral bracts.—Quantity and arrangement: About 28             arranged in three whorls. Length: About 1.2 cm. Width: About             4.5 mm. Shape: Narrowly ovate. Apex: Narrowly obtuse. Base:             Cuneate. Margin: Entire. Texture and luster, upper surface:             Smooth, glabrous; glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface:             Densely pubescent; matte. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 137C; margins, translucent and close to 157D.         -   Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3.8 cm.             Diameter, terminal peduncle: About 3.5 mm. Length, third             peduncle (when grown as a spray-type): About 3.5 cm.             Diameter, third peduncle (when grown as a spray-type): About             3 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect, terminal peduncle: Mostly             upright. Aspect, third peduncle (when grown as a             spray-type): About 40° from the flowering stem axis. Texture             and luster: Densely pubescent; moderately glossy. Color:             Close to 143A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Not observed on ray             florets. Gynoecium: Quantity: One per ray floret. Pistil             length: About 7 mm. Style length: About 6 mm. Style color:             Close to 145D. Stigma diameter: About 1 mm. Stigma shape:             Cleft, decurrent. Stigma color: Close to 153D. Ovary color:             Close to 157A.         -   Seeds and fruits.—To date, seed and fruit production have             not been observed on plants of the new Chrysanthemum. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have     been observed to be relatively resistant to Fusarium oxysporum f.     sp. chrysanthemi, Verticillium dahliae and Puccinia horiana strain     PhNL1. To date, plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been     observed to be resistant to pests and other pathogens common to     plants grown under commercial conditions. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have been     observed to tolerate temperatures ranging from about −12° C. to     35° C. and to be suitable for USDA Hardiness Zones 8 to 10. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Chrysanthemum plant named ‘DLFGAVI7’ as illustrated and described. 